SuzukiSavage.com - Shake at highway speeds?

SinisterSnake

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Endicott, NY
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Shake at highway speeds?
07/19/09 at 15:06:01

My first post here!

Hi, I just bought my first bike a 96 650. It's darn fun to ride around with one small problem. I get a decent amount of what I would call head shake. The front end seems to vibrate pretty decent over 55. Like in a car when a car had scalloped or unbalanced tires. I ran my hand across the tread and it felt a little scalloped. The tire also is a little dry rotted. So I plan to put a new one on tomorrow do you think this will cure the problem? Any thing else I should look at?
The rear tire is new.

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voldigicam

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Re: Shake at highway speeds?
Reply #1 - 07/19/09 at 16:50:55

My front tire is scalloped. The vibration at low speed in turns and at higher speeds straight appears almost certainly to be coming from this. Pretty obvious. I have tire and tire irons and a tube coming tomorrow. MT66 Pirelli. The rear is a new Metzler. I anticipate mega-upgraded ride quality.

I do notice a good deal of buffeting. Expected on a light bike.

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2007 S40
2003 Volusia 40th Ann.
Friendsville, TN

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #2 - 07/19/09 at 17:32:54 I'm on my second front tire, 1st was a kenda kruz, 2nd is a dunlop d404. Both have a zig zag pattern across the center of the tire. And both have developed wear on the side where the zig exists. If the wear is in contrary to the pattern of the tire, you may have a problem. otherwise I don't think so. new tires feel great.
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voldigicam Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 327	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #3 - 07/19/09 at 18:37:39 A little wear and scalloping are different. The scalloping on the IRC I have is quite pronounced. Doesn't do much straight ahead, but gives amusing vibration when the bike leans. I wouldn't expect just wear to do this. The IRC seems a pretty marginal tire anyway!
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28660 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #4 - 07/19/09 at 18:52:10 Check the steering head bearings,... and if you don't have a front fender, you might need a fork brace...
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #5 - 07/19/09 at 19:14:44 & put a fork brace on it..
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #6 - 07/19/09 at 19:41:44 Mostly likely the wheel is out of balance. But if you got age cracking or dry rot I'd replace it right away.
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SinisterSnake YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 9 Endicott, NY Gender:	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #7 - 07/20/09 at 02:08:01 I do have a front fender and the bearings in the steering tube seem fine and tight. It's going to need a new tire soon anyway so I might as well get one now. Hopefully I don't need a fork brace, I didn't plan to buy a bike this summer and have too many other unfinished projects around the house as it is!
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #8 - 07/20/09 at 07:17:23 The forks are fairly flexible, which is why the brace is recommended. Any variance in the level of the road and the wheel will try and follow it. The drunken rain grooves they have been putting down are a lot of fun.
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PTRider

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Re: Shake at highway speeds?
Reply #9 - 07/20/09 at 07:17:48

Replace the cracked tire for sure.

Some possibilities--
--tire balance
--bent frame
--bent wheel
--improperly modified suspension
--rear shocks not set for your weight
--holding the bars way to stiff with tight hands & arms
--fork seal or other internal problem
--steering head bearing worn & notched
--pavement grooving pattern just wrong for the tire or the bike
--front wheel bearings bad
--front axle loose

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SinisterSnake

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Re: Shake at highway speeds?
Reply #10 - 07/20/09 at 14:21:37

PTRider wrote on 07/20/09 at 07:17:48:

Replace the cracked tire for sure.

Some possibilities--
--tire balance That's fixed
--bent frame How do I check that? I don't see any stress cracks or bends
--bent wheel Nope
--improperly modified suspension It's stock
--rear shocks not set for your weight Perhaps, I weigh 180 what should they be at?
--holding the bars way to stiff with tight hands & arms Most likely
--fork seal or other internal problem They seem fine, no leaking
--steering head bearing worn & notched [color=#ff0000]Bearings are fine, smooth movement
--pavement grooving pattern just wrong for the tire or the bike no, it was like that all over
--front wheel bearings bad No play or grinding
--front axle looseNope tight

Thanks for that! I'll check out those that I haven't already.

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Skid Mark

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Calgary, Alberta
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Re: Shake at highway speeds?
Reply #11 - 07/20/09 at 14:32:54

The Savage can be pretty twitchy at highway speeds. I found if I was a bit tense, this reflected in much more twitchyness. Try to relax your grip some and keep your arms loose when on the highway. This will help some. As metioned before, a fork brace helps a lot too. I have one and the improvement in handling is well worth the bucks.

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2008 S40 , Windshield, Sigma Cycle Computer, after market backrest & luggage rack, Tkat Fork Brace, saddlebags, 12v power supply, Garmin GPS
'09 C50SE, '09 C90
Shoulda got into this years ago

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SinisterSnake YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 9 Endicott, NY Gender:	Re: Shake at highway speeds? Reply #12 - 07/20/09 at 15:13:20 Yeah I was going to buy one. A tire ate that money today. At some point I will.
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